Four years later: remembering the victims of the December 2021 tornadoes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Four years ago, the community of Bowling Green, along with multiple other cities, emerged on the morning of Dec. 11 to significant damage and losses of life following tornadoes that struck in the early morning hours.

As longtime residents and new members of our community may look back on the destruction, we remember the lives lost.

In WNKY News 40’s coverage in the days following this weather event, our team spoke to the Warren County Coroner’s Office, which confirmed the following fatalities:

1. Cory Scott – 27 year old male located at residence on Vanmeter Road in Rockfield, Kentucky
2. Mae F. White – 77 year old female located at residence on Hillridge Court
3. Victoria Smith – 64 year old female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
4. Rachel Brown – 36 year old female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
5. Steven Brown – 35 year old female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
6. Nariah Cayshelle Brown – 16 year old female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
7. Nolynn Brown – Juvenile male located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
8. Nyles Brown – 4 year old male located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
9. Nyssa Brown — 13 year old female
10. Alisa Besic – Adult female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
11. Selmir Besic – Juvenile male located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
12. Elma Besic – Juvenile female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
13. Samantha Besic – Infant female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
14. Alma Besic – Infant female located near residence on Moss Creek Avenue
15. Robert Williams, Jr. – 65 year old male death at Skyline Medical Center as a result of injuries sustained in
    storm.
16. Say Meh – 42 ear old female death at The Medical Center at Bowling Green as a result of injuries
    sustained in storm.

In addition, a 17th death, 67-year-old Terry Martin Jayne, was confirmed at The Medical Center at Bowling Green as a result of cardiac arrest during storm cleanup.

While the path of damage may no longer be visible, the mark it has left in the memories and names of those impacted remain.

According to the official website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, if you experience disaster distress, support is available through multiple resources, including the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. ​The Disaster Distress Helpline is a 24/7, year-round, confidential, multilingual crisis counseling and emotional support resource for survivors, responders and anyone in the U.S./territories struggling with distress or other mental health concerns related to any natural or human-caused disaster.